THE MARTIN COUNTY BOARD TUESDAY HEARD FROM COUNTY ASSESSOR DAN WHITMAN ABOUT HIS CONCERNS ABOUT A POSSIBLE TAX BREAK FOR ETHANOL PLANTS THAT WAS INITIALLY INTRODUCED BY STATE SENATOR JULIE ROSEN OF FAIRMONT. WHITMAN SAID THE LEGISLATION HAS YET TO BE READ BY THE TAX COMMITTEE BUT COULD SURFACE NEXT YEAR ON ITS OWN OR ATTACHED TO SOME OTHER BILL. WHITMAN'S CONCERN IS THE BILL OFFERING 28 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF THE PLANTS TO BE EXEMPTED FROM PROPERTY TAXES WHICH HE SAID COULD DEEPLY IMPACT THE CITY OF WELCOME WITH A LOSS OF 142,000 DOLLARS A YEAR IN TAX REVENUE. HE ALSO SAID THE COUNTY COULD BE AFFECTED BY AT LEAST 50,000 DOLLARS IN REVENUE LOSS PER YEAR FROM EACH OF THE ETHANOL PLANTS IN THE COUNTY.

COMMISSIONERS VOTED TO SEND LETTERS OF CONCERN TO BOTH SENATOR ROSEN AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE BOB GUNTHER OF FAIRMONT.